Testing a novel agri-environment scheme based on the ecology of the target species, Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus

Farmland birds are in steep decline and agri-environment schemes (AES) to counteract these biodiversity losses are expensive and inefficient. Here we test a novel AES, Birdfields', designed using detailed ecological knowledge of the target species, Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus. Curren...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ibis
Main Authors: Schlaich, Almut E., Klaassen, Raymond H. G., Bouten, Willem, Both, Christiaan, Koks, Ben J.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2015
Subjects:
agri-environment schemes
biodiversity
Circus pygargus
Common Vole
conservation
farmland birds
GPS-tracking
AGRICULTURAL INTENSIFICATION
STEWARDSHIP SCHEME
FORAGING HABITAT
FIELD MARGINS
MANAGEMENT
POPULATIONS
LANDSCAPES
RESPONSES
Common vole
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/11370/2b6bfdeb-70ef-454e-b4ef-43ea60c5424d
https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/2b6bfdeb-70ef-454e-b4ef-43ea60c5424d
https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12299
https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/85673747/Testing_a_novel_agri_environment_scheme_based_on_the_ecology_of_the_target_species.pdf
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Summary:Farmland birds are in steep decline and agri-environment schemes (AES) to counteract these biodiversity losses are expensive and inefficient. Here we test a novel AES, Birdfields', designed using detailed ecological knowledge of the target species, Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus. Current AES, such as field margins, that aim to improve foraging conditions (i.e. vole densities) for harriers are inefficient, as prey are difficult to capture in tall set-aside habitat. Birdfields' combines strips of set-aside to boost vole numbers and strips of alfalfa, as voles are accessible after alfalfa has been harvested. We found that vole numbers were generally highest in set-aside. Montagu's Harriers fitted with GPS-loggers used Birdfields' intensively after mowing, preferring mown to unmown strips. Thus, prey availability appeared more important than prey abundance. Thus, Birdfields', as a targeted AES for Montagu's Harriers, is more effective than previous AES due to increased prey accessibility. An additional advantage of Birdfields' is that it is considerably cheaper, due to the harvest of alfalfa. We advocate that AES should always include monitoring and research activities, aiming at a more adaptive conservation approach.

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